Woodworkers

Most woodworkers are trained on the job; basic machine operations
may be learned in a few months, but becoming a skilled woodworker
often requires 2 or more years.

Overall employment is expected to decline.

Job prospects will be best for highly skilled woodworkers
who produce customized output, which is less susceptible to
automation and import competition, and for those who know how
to operate computerized numerical control (CNC) machines.

Employment is highly sensitive to economic cycles; during
economic downturns, workers are subject to layoffs or reductions
in hours.

Nature of the Work

Despite the development of sophisticated plastics and other materials,
the demand for wood products continues unabated. Helping to meet
this demand are woodworkers. Woodworkers are found in industries
that produce wood, such as sawmills and plywood mills; in industries
that use wood to produce furniture, kitchen cabinets, musical
instruments, and other fabricated wood products; and in small
shops that make architectural woodwork, furniture, and many other
specialty items.

All woodworkers are employed at some stage of the process through
which logs of wood are transformed into finished products. Some
of these workers produce the structural elements of buildings;
others mill hardwood and softwood lumber; still others assemble
finished wood products. They operate machines that cut, shape,
assemble, and finish raw wood to make the doors, windows, cabinets,
trusses, plywood, flooring, paneling, molding, and trim that are
components of most homes. Others may fashion home accessories,
such as beds, sofas, tables, dressers, and chairs. In addition
to these household goods, woodworkers also make sporting goods,
including baseball bats and oars, as well as musical instruments,
toys, caskets, tool handles, and thousands of other wooden items.

Production woodworkers set up, operate, and tend woodworking
machines such as power saws, planers, sanders, lathes, jointers,
and routers that cut and shape components from lumber, plywood,
and other wood products. In sawmills, sawing machine operators
and tenders set up, operate, or tend wood-sawing machines
that cut logs into planks, timbers, or boards. In plants manufacturing
wood products, woodworkers first determine the best method of
shaping and assembling parts, working from blueprints, supervisors’
instructions, or shop drawings that woodworkers themselves produce.
Before cutting, they often must measure and mark the materials.
They verify dimensions and may trim parts using handtools such
as planes, chisels, wood files, or sanders to ensure a tight fit.
Woodworking machine operators and tenders set up, operate,
or tend specific woodworking machines, such as drill presses,
lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood-nailing machines.
Lower skilled operators may merely press a switch on a woodworking
machine and monitor the automatic operation, whereas more highly
skilled operators set up equipment, cut and shape wooden parts,
and verify dimensions using a template, caliper, or rule.

The next step in the manufacturing process is the production
of subassemblies using fasteners and adhesives. Next, the pieces
are brought together to form a complete unit. The product is then
finish-sanded; stained; and, if necessary, coated with a sealer,
such as lacquer or varnish. Woodworkers may perform this work
in teams or be assisted by a helper.

Woodworkers have been greatly affected by the introduction of
computer-controlled machinery. This technology has raised worker
productivity by allowing one operator to simultaneously tend a
greater number of machines. An operator can program a CNC machine
to perform a sequence of operations automatically, resulting in
greater precision and reliability. The integration of computers
with equipment has improved production speed and capability, simplified
setup and maintenance requirements, and increased the demand for
workers with computer skills.

While this costly equipment has had a great effect on workers
in the largest, most efficient firms, precision or custom woodworkers—who
generally work in smaller firms—have continued to employ the same
production techniques they have used for many years. Workers such
as cabinetmakersand bench carpenters, modelmakers and
patternmakers, and furniture finishers work on a customized
basis, often building one-of-a-kind items. These highly skilled
precision woodworkers usually perform a complete cycle of tasks—cutting,
shaping, and preparing surfaces and assembling prepared parts
of complex wood components into a finished wood product. For this
reason, these workers normally need substantial training and an
ability to work from detailed instructions and specifications.
In addition, they often are required to exercise independent judgment
when undertaking an assignment.

Working Conditions

Working conditions vary by industry and specific job duties.
In logging and sawmills, for example, working conditions are physically
demanding because of the handling of heavy, bulky material. Workers
in these industries also may encounter excessive noise, dust,
and other air pollutants. However, the use of earplugs and respirators
may partially alleviate these problems. Also, rigid adherence
to safety precautions minimizes risk of injury from contact with
rough wood stock, sharp tools, and power equipment. The risk of
injury also is lowered by the installation of computer-controlled
equipment, which reduces the physical labor and hands-on contact
with machinery.

In furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing, employees who
operate machinery often must wear ear and eye protection. They
also must follow operating safety instructions and use safety
shields or guards to prevent accidents. Those who work in the
finishing area must be provided with an appropriate dust or vapor
mask or a complete protective safety suit, or must work in a finishing
environment that removes all vapors and dust particles from the
atmosphere. Prolonged standing, lifting, and fitting of heavy
objects are common characteristics of the job.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Most woodworkers are trained on the job, picking up skills informally
from experienced workers. Most woodworkers learn basic machine
operations and job tasks in a few months, but becoming a skilled
woodworker often requires 2 or more years.

Woodworkers increasingly acquire skills through vocational education.
Some may learn by working as carpenters on construction jobs.
Others may attend colleges or universities that offer training
in areas including wood technology, furniture manufacturing, wood
engineering, and production management. These programs prepare
students for positions in production, supervision, engineering,
and management and are increasingly important as woodworking technology
becomes more advanced.

Beginners usually observe and help experienced machine operators.
They may supply material to, or remove fabricated products from,
machines. Trainees also do simple machine operating jobs while
closely supervised by experienced workers, but as beginners gain
experience, they perform more complex jobs with less supervision.
Some may learn to read blueprints, set up machines, and plan the
sequence of the work. Employers seek applicants with a high school
diploma or the equivalent because of the growing sophistication
of machinery and the constant need for retraining. People seeking
woodworking jobs can enhance their employment and advancement
prospects by completing high school and receiving training in
mathematics, science, and computer applications. Other important
qualities for entrants in this occupation include mechanical ability,
manual dexterity, and the ability to pay attention to detail.

Advancement opportunities often are limited and depend on education
and training, seniority, and a worker’s skills and initiative.
Sometimes experienced woodworkers become inspectors or supervisors
responsible for the work of a group of woodworkers. Production
workers often can advance into these positions by assuming additional
responsibilities and by attending workshops, seminars, or college
programs. Those who are highly skilled may set up their own woodworking
shops.

Employment

Woodworkers held about 364,000 jobs in 2004. Self-employed woodworkers,
mostly cabinetmakers and furniture finishers, accounted for 14
percent of these jobs. Employment among detailed woodworking occupations
was distributed as follows:

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

148,000

Woodworking machine setters, operators,
and tenders, except sawing

92,000

Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders,
wood

58,000

Furniture finishers

34,000

Model makers, wood

3,200

Patternmakers, wood

2,500

All other woodworkers

26,000

Almost 3 out of 4 woodworkers were employed in manufacturing
industries. One-third of woodworkers were found in establishments
fabricating household and office furniture and fixtures, and 30
percent worked in wood product manufacturing, producing a variety
of raw, intermediate, and finished woodstock. Wholesale and retail
lumber dealers, furniture stores, reupholstery and furniture repair
shops, and construction firms also employ woodworkers.

Woodworking jobs are found throughout the country. However, lumber
and wood products-related production jobs are concentrated in
the South and Northwest, close to the supply of wood, whereas
furnituremakers are more prevalent in the Southeast. Custom shops
can be found everywhere, but generally are concentrated in or
near highly populated areas.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of woodworkers is expected to decline through
2014, although job growth and opportunities will vary by specialty.
In general, opportunities for more highly skilled woodworkers
will be better than for woodworkers in specialties susceptible
to productivity improvements and competition from imported wood
products. Despite the expected overall decline in employment of
woodworkers, many job opportunities still will arise each year
because of the need to replace experienced woodworkers who transfer
to other occupations or leave the labor force. Firms will need
woodworkers with technical skills to operate their increasingly
advanced computerized machinery. The number of new workers entering
these occupations is expected to be low because, as school systems
face tighter budgets, the first programs to be cut often are vocational-technical
programs, including those that train woodworkers. Also, interest
in pursuing these jobs will continue to decline as workers question
the stability of manufacturing occupations. For these reasons,
competition should be mild, and opportunities should be best for
woodworkers who, through vocational education or experience, develop
highly specialized woodworking skills or knowledge of CNC machine
tool operation.

Employment of sawing and woodworking machine setters, operators,
and tenders is expected to decline through 2014. Jobs in the United
States will continue to be lost as imports grow. To remain competitive
with these imports, some domestic firms are expected to continue
to move their production processes to foreign countries, further
reducing employment. Others are using advanced technology, such
as robots and CNC machinery, to reduce the number of workers needed
in production. These forces will prevent employment from rising
with the demand for wood products, particularly in the mills and
manufacturing plants where many processes can be automated. Among
woodworking machine operators, job prospects will be best for
those skilled in CNC machine tool operation.

Employment of furniture finishers is expected to decline. Since
furniture is largely mass-produced, it is highly susceptible to
import competition; the percentage of furniture sold in the United
States that is produced abroad has steadily increased over the
past 10 years, a trend that is expected to continue.

Employment of bench carpenters, cabinetmakers, modelmakers, patternmakers,
and other specialized woodworking occupations will grow more slowly
than the average. Demand for these workers will stem from increases
in population, personal income, and business expenditures, in
addition to the continuing need for repair and renovation of residential
and commercial properties. Therefore, opportunities should be
available for those who specialize in items such as moldings,
cabinets, stairs, and windows. Firms that focus on custom woodwork
will be best able to compete against imports without transferring
jobs offshore, so opportunities should be very good in specialized
woodworking sectors, such as architectural woodworking. Modelmakers
and patternmakers who know how to create and execute designs on
a computer may have the best opportunities.

Employment in all woodworking specialties is highly sensitive
to economic cycles. During economic downturns, workers are subject
to layoffs or reductions in hours.

Earnings

Median hourly earnings of cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
were $12.16 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between
$9.69 and $15.51. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.00,
and the highest 10 percent earned more than $19.28. Median hourly
earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of cabinetmakers
and bench carpenters in May 2004 are shown below:

Median hourly earnings of sawing machine setters, operators,
and tenders, wood, were $10.91 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent
earned between $8.95 and $13.34. The lowest 10 percent earned
less than $7.46, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $16.20.
Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest
numbers of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood,
in May 2004, are shown below:

Median hourly earnings of woodworking machine setters, operators,
and tenders, except sawing, were $10.93 in May 2004. The middle
50 percent earned between $8.93 and $13.40. The lowest 10 percent
earned less than $7.55, and the highest 10 percent earned more
than $16.33. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing
the largest numbers of woodworking machine setters, operators,
and tenders, except sawing, in May 2004, are shown below:

In May 2004, median hourly earnings were $11.35 for furniture
finishers and $10.16 for all other woodworkers.

Some woodworkers, such as those in logging or sawmills who are
engaged in processing primary wood and building materials, are
members of the International Association of Machinists. Others
belong to the United Brotherhood of carpenters and Joiners of
America.

Related Occupations

Carpenters also work with wood. In addition, many woodworkers
follow blueprints and drawings and use machines to shape and form
raw wood into a final product. Workers who perform similar functions
working with other materials include sheet metal workers, structural
and reinforcing iron and metal workers, computer-control programmers
and operators, Machinists, and tool and die makers.

Sources of Additional Information

For information about woodworking occupations, contact local
furniture manufacturers, sawmills and planing mills, cabinetmaking
or millwork firms, lumber dealers, a local of one of the unions
mentioned above, or the nearest office of the State employment
service.